A Marriage of Convenience

agrance, blending with the lingering drizzle as it brushe

set the stage for the evening's most anticipated highlight-a pair of 18th-century diam

were finally

endary earrings in person. She attended the event alo

stunning! Is it from your famil

e had always been breathtaking-her amber eyes, sharp and captivating, held a hypnotic depth, while the

itself was stunning, or if it simply beca

a fashion empire, a symbol of prestige and power. From couture evening gowns to trendsetting

ss. The right connections might mean securing an exclusive piece befo

their admiration, offering

tom-made," she

couture was hardly a novelty. But wearing something entirely

eir admiration. As always, they chimed in wi

ersation naturally paused, she seized the

y, som

htedness wasn't severe-barely 200 degrees-she rarely wore glasses. But tonight, she had to endure

retouched her lipstick and slipped the tube back

hen-clink!-her lipstick slipped from her finge

its crisp metallic sound echoing through the quiet hallw

. Above them, the perfectly tailored drape of suit tro

ntact lenses shifted uncomfortably with them, and with the dim corridor light

ding a calm yet undeniable authority. In the shadows, his f

iscomfort. Forget it. It doesn't matter who i

he man had already stepped close

rested in h

in the air-cool, crisp bergamot, w

el his gaze-steady, unwaveri

the lipstick from his palm. "Thank you," she mur

erested. She had no desire f

ed away, the man turned to watch her retr

cker of recognition, or perhaps curio

her pace and her gown swept behind he

bustling auction hall, the atten

one else-a vibrant young woman at the center of the circle, chatting anim

ve you been? I've been lo

almost theatrical, her lips painted in a bold sh

th into a flawlessly practiced smil

ped away fo

dn't miss those earr

women, leaning in like they

your budget ton

e flute from a passing server's tray. Without breaking h

hen something

ooch-an exquisite piece, with d

s, but the boldness of th

ltered for a fra

before Grace could ask, she sm

ched the brooch delicately, her voice tin

led throug

an G? Th

hey only make eighty pieces a year, most of wh

the others instinctively start estimating its worth

htened her posture, her brooch gleamin

uch as glanced at it, my husband pulled a few strings

as though this level of dev

nd adored her. And most importan

ng, a powerhouse of wealth and status. Entirely different from

the same generation, they

while Grace stood in black-two sides o

ry. People were already placing their s

opic had turned to

weeks after their wedding-Sixteen and a half hou

early tw

ge in na